Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej ordered National Police Chief General Seriphisut Temiyawej to be transferred to an inactive post in the prime minister's office, said deputy police commissioner Pacharawat Wongsuwan.

Mr Pacharawat will serve as acting national police chief. He declined to comment on the reason behind the transfer.

The decision to replace Mr Seriphisut comes a week after the government fired the chief of the Department of Special Investigations, or DSI, which is handing a corruption case against deposed Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who returned to Thailand from exile on Thursday.

The decision to replace Mr Seriphisut is part of a purge of high-profile bureaucrats and police who were appointed by the previous government, which was installed by the coup leaders who ousted Mr Thaksin in Sept 2006.

A veteran police officer with a reputation for incorruptibility, Mr Seriphisut was critical of the police force, citing cronyism and a lack of direction. He publicly criticized police General Kowit Watana, the former police chief under Mr Thaksin's premiership, over an investigation into illegal gambling dens.

Two other senior government officials have been transferred since Mr Samak took office Feb 6.

Pramote Rattawanit, chief of the government's public relations department, was transferred to an inactive post on Thursday.

Siriwat Thiptaradon, secretary-general of the food and drug administration, was transferred to an inactive post earlier this week after the new government said it may review its predecessor's decision to ignore patents on several cancer-fighting drugs.

Mr Siriwat called the decision unfair and said he was transferred because he supported the previous government's position. -- AP